1. Light at three levels. Lighting is one of the most important decorating tools. Ceiling, table and uplighting from the floor (a light highlighting a plant, for example) should be present in nearly every room. Use dimmer controls and low-voltage bulbs for the ceiling fixtures for less glaring light.

Lowe's (ENLARGE)

Lighting is an important concept in home decor.

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2. Plan what you'll see. Make sure your color scheme is mapped out so rooms flow from one to the other without jarring the senses. If you must have an orange room, put it somewhere other than opening into the purple one.

3. If you mix fabric patterns ... make sure they are all in the same color family. You can repeat accent colors from the patterns with accent pieces, such as sofa pillows.

4. Choose fabric first. It's much easier to match a paint color to a fabric than the other way around. Having the fabric in hand also will give you a chance to make the color you love pop by choosing the right wall color.

5. Big samples help. Many bad decisions are based on tiny paint chips. Buy a small can of the color you are considering and paint it on a large board or piece of dry wall. Move it from place to place in the room to see how light affects it. Same principle applies to carpet, fabrics and wallpaper.

6. Keep window treatments the same. Even if some windows or sliding doors are different, use the same color and type of treatments on them to create a cohesive look.

Source: "Woman's Day Easy Household Tips," Filipacchi Publishing, $14.99